Lading agitator for hoppers



Dec. 31, 194-0. w JOY 2,226,723

LADING AGITATOR FOR HOPPERS Filed April 18, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N w m so I II 1 N i W IINVENTOR @glterf h/ (by H V l ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1940., R. w. JOY

LADING AGITATOR FOR HOPPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1939 w m m N R W .0 mi an a & mm m w 4 M Patented Dec. 31, 1940 Robert W. Joy, Berwick,

Pa., assignor to American I Car and Foundry Company, New York, N.Y.,' a corporation of New Jersey Application April18, 1939, Serial No. 268,588

14 Claims.

This invention relates to lading agitatorsior hoppers in general and in particular to such agitators as applied to railway hopper cars.

In the transportation or storage of certain bulk materials it has been found that they. become so compact during transport or storage that they will not discharge from the hopper when the outlets are open. Vibration of the sides of the hopper either manually or mechanically will cause a certain amount of the material to discharge but the remaining material arches across the hopper and will not discharge. The vibration of the hopper sides has in som instances been so violent as to endanger the hopper structure or the trestle on which it is supported yet the material would not discharge duev to the fact that any material dislodged will be at the edges of the arc with secondary arches immediately established preventing break down of the mass. If an arch is disturbed at its center, that is, at

what might be considered the key,v then the, entire arch will collapse. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a hopper for the transport or storage of bulk material hav- 5 ing a vibrator part built into the structure and capable of transmitting the vibrations to the material directly above the discharge outlet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hopper structure having a vibrator 30 part built into the structure and capable of transmitting vibrations directly to the material in the hopper while at the same time transmitting secondary vibrations to the hopper side wall structure.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hopper structure having a vibrator part built therein and capable of establishing vibrations in the material at right angles to each other and substantially directly above the hopper 40 outlet.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled inthe art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on line l| of Fig. 2 and showing the lower part of a railway hopper car with one form of vibrator part built therein;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the structure 50 shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2; i I I,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting for the agitator rod which projects 5 through the hopper side wall;

Fig. 5 is a sectional ,view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modification thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken'substantially on line 6-'-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will 5 be seen that the improved agitator part has been applied to a railway hopper car of a construction similar to that shown on Patent 2,020,880, although it is equally suitable for attachment to constructionsuch as shown on Patents 2,042,342 and 2,101,448. The car structure in the present instance is'formed by channel center sills 2 extending from end to end of the car and supported uponthe customary trucks which are'in turn carried by wheels W upon the running rails 15 (Fig. 1). The car side walls are of plate girder construction formed with side sheets 4 reinforced by channel or other form posts 6 and girder lower chord 8. The sid walls are tied together by the customary bolsters and cross bearers (not 20 shown) and also by. transverse hopper slope sheets l0 and 12 which slope from a point above the center sills downwardly to a point below the sills to provide a hopper discharge outlet 14. This hopper outlet isboundedby the. aforesaid sheets and by'a side slope sheet 16 connected to the lower edge of the side walls and to the transverse slope sheets l0 and I2 and also by the lower vertical portion 20 of. a center sill cover member. The center sill cover member may extend continuously or as shown may extend between the transverse slope sheets l0 and I2 and is formed with the upper intermediate portion inv clined as at 22 to provide shedding surfaces over the centersill. Such an arrangement of car parts is merely representative as showing one means in which a hopper may be constructed, it being obvious that other types of construction and arrangement may be used without affecting the vibrator part now to be described. a The vibrator part which is built into the car or hopper structure consists of side bars 30 extending transversely of th hopper and attached to the car side walls either directly by Welding or-by angle clips 32. These transversely extend- 5 ing side bars extend across the hopper above the center sill and arefreeof attachment to the hopper structure except at the car side walls. At-some point intermediate the ends of the side walls and above the, discharge-opening the side bars are joined together by meansof a mainvibrator plate 34, which plate is of considerable depth and is joined to the transverse side bars by means of angle members 36 extending throughout the depth of the main-vibrator plate. These angle members 35 may as shown be formed separately or if desired they may be formed as flanges on the main vibrator sheet, but in any case attention is directed to the fact that this main vibrator sheet is attached to the side bars adjacent its top edge, thus allowing the lower edge to be more or less free for movement. The main vibrator plate is attached to the side plates above the hopper outlet as mentioned previously and this attachment is made substantially at the onethird points of the side bars. The central portion of the main vibrator'plate is provided with a channel or other form reinforcing and distributing bar 38 spot welded or otherwise attached to the main vibrator sheet. The lower portion of the main vibrator sheet and channel rein iorcement is pierced to receive a vibrator rod or other means 40 rigidly clamped to the main sheet and reinforced by nuts 42 and lock nuts 44. The vibrator rod extends from the main vibrator sheet outwardly through any opening 46 provided in the hopper sidesheet and lower'chord and receives at its outer end a vibrator head 48 keyed or otherwise connected as at. 50. to the vibrator rod A rubber or other elastic means 52 is interposed between the vibrator head and a collar 54 resting against. the lower chord of the side wall. This rubber or other resilient washer will insure return of the vibrator rod and main vibrator plate to their proper position after an impact has been delivered to the vibrator head In the form shown in Figs. '5 and 6. the side bars 60; are curved and are placedin the car in such a position as to be bowed. outwardly, away from each. other as clearly shown in Fig. 5. These bowed side bars are connected together by angle members 6.2 carrying at their lowerend a main vibratorbar or shallow plate 64 to. which the vibrator rod is attached. The remainder of the structure is similar to that previously described and accordingly the same reference numerals havebeen used. as were used in connection with Figs. 1to:4 inclusive.

The operation of the vibrator part is as follows: An impact blow delivered to the vibrator head will compress the rubber or resilient. washer and bowthemain vibrator sheet inward. This in turn will cause the side bars to be moved inward toward each other causing a force to be transmitted to the car side walls tending to bow them inward in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and outward in. Figs. 5, 6. As soon as the bowed plates are free the energy absorbed by them and by the resilient washer will be expendedlin driving them back toward their normal position and due to the. momentum gained they'will snap slightly beyond their normal position, in this instance causing the main plate to be bowed outwardly with the side pieces and car side walls again bowing as before. It will thus be seen that the main vibrator plate'will in either modification have an oscillatory motion on either side of its normal position, while the side bars 30 or 60 and the car side walls'will have an oscillatory motion only on the one side of their normal p0 Sition. Attention is directed to the fact that the motion ofthe main vibrator plate 34 or 64 is atright angles to the motion of the side bars 30 or 6%] and at times in oppositionto the movement of the sidewalls, while at other times 'it is'in the same direction." In this'manner fthe heavy vibrations are delivered directly to the materialwith the more violent vibrations being received in the center of the arching material directly above the hopper discharge. It should also be noted that there is a secondary motion set up due to the connection of the vibrator rod to the main vibrator sheet adjacent its lower edge thus causing a slight rotative or flapping vibration of this main sheet. The same is true whether the main vibrator is made as a sheet as shown in Fig. 3 or as a shallow sheet or bar as shown in Fig. 5. It will be obvious that the main vibrator sheet and side bars will rapidly destroy any arch that may form in the material and as the mass collapses any lumps or large masses of material will be broken up by the lower edge of the main vibrator sheet since this edge has a maximum amount of movement.

In each of the forms shown the vibrations are delivered directly to the lading above the discharge opening with the minor vibrations transmitted to the car side and in this connection it should be noted that in the form shown 1 by Figs. l'to 4 inclusive the transverse side bars will tend to always move the side walls inward, while inthe form shown in Figs. 5, 6 the transverse side bars will, due to their being bowed, always move the side walls outward and these movements are always the same regardless of the direction of impact on the vibrator head. Although the material used in the vibrator part has not been indicated, it will usually be of ordinary iron or steel or in some instances it may be desirable to make the part of spring steel, but in any case the material will be elastic so that it will recover its size and shape after deformation.

While the vibrator part and its connection to the hopper structure has. been described more or less in detail, itis obvious that. various modifications other than those shown and described will suggest themselves topersonsskilledin the art and all such modifications. and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as will fall within the scope of the. following claims which define my invention.

What is claimedis:

1. In a railway hopper car the. combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, a vibrator part rigidly secured to the car side wall inteniorly thereof, said vibrator part having the main vibratory portion thereof positioned above said hopper discharge opening and transmitting vibrations to the car side walls, and means connected to the main vibratory portion and extending through the car side wall for reception of impacts.

2. Ina railway hopper car the combination of sidewalls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side Walls to form a hopper discharge opening, a vibrator part rigidly secured to the carside wall interiorly thereof, said vibrator part having the main vibratory portion thereof positioned above said hopper discharge opening and transmitting vibrations to thecar side walls, and means connected to the main vibratory portion and extending 'throughthe car sidewall for reception of impacts, said means being free of connection to the side wall and cushioned by a resilient washer for restoring the parts to normal position after reception of an impactnpon said means.

3. Ina railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, and a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising, spaced apart side bars connected to the car side walls, a main vibratory plate connecting said side bars and positioned above said hopper discharge opening, and means to impart vibratory movement to said main vibratory plate, said means extending outwardly through the car side wall.

4. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, and a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising, spaced side bars connected to the car side walls and spaced apart a greater distance adjacent the center of the car than at the side walls, anda main Vibratory plate connecting said side bars intermediate their ends, said main vibratory plate being connected to means extending exteriorly of the car for reception of vibrations.

5. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, and a vibratory part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising, curved side bars connected at their ends to the car side walls with the curves in opposition to each other, a main vibratory plate connecting said side bars intermediate their ends, and means extending exteriorly of the car for reception of vibrations and connected to said main vibratory plate.

6. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, and a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising, spaced apart side bars extending between .and connected to the car side walls, a main vibratory plate connected adjacent its upper edge to said side bars, and means connected to said main vibratory plate to transmit vibratory movement thereto.

7. In .a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, and a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising, spaced apart side bars extending between and connected to the car side walls, a main vibratory plate connected to said side bars, and means connected to said main vibratory plate below the plane of said side bars, said means extending exteriorly of the car for transmission of movement to said main vibratory plate.

8. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, and a vibrator part secured to the car interiorly thereof, said vibrator part being so formed and arranged as to simultaneously transmit vibrations to the lading and to the side walls in directions at right angles to each other and in substantially horizontal planes.

9. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising side bars extending between and connected to the car walls and a main vibratory portion connected to said side bars, said main vibratory portion setting up vibrations in said side bars substantially at right angles to the vibrations in the main vibratory portion, and means connected to the main vibratory portion .and extending through the adjacent side wall for transmission of movement to said main vibratory portion.

10. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising side bars extending between and connected to the car walls and a main vibratory portion connected to said side bars, said main vibratory portion setting up vibrations in said side bars substantially at right angles to the vibrations in the main vibratory portion and said side bars setting up vibrations in the car walls substantially at right angles to the vibrations in the side bars, and means connected to the main vibratory portion and slidably extended through the adjacent side wall for transmission of movement to said main vibratory portion.

11. In a railway hopper car the combination of side walls, slope sheets converging downwardly from the side walls to form a hopper discharge opening, a vibrator part formed of elastic material and secured to the car interiorly thereof and comprising side bars connected to the car walls and a main vibratory portion connected to said side bars, said main vibratory portion setting up vibrations in said side bars substantially at right angles to the vibrations in the main vibratory portion and said side bars being so formed and arranged as to set up vibrations in the car side Walls tending to bulge the same outwardly, and impact receiving means connected to the main vibratory portion and slidably extended through the adjacent side wall for transmission of movement to said main vibratory portion.

12. In a railway hopper car including side walls, slope sheets connected with the side walls and defining a hopper, means formed of elastic material for agitating car lading comprising a side bar extended between .and connected to the side walls a substantial distance above the lower edges of said side walls, a plate member secured to said side bar and depending therefrom into the hopper, and vibrating means for said plate member connected to said member and extending through the adjacent side wall.

13. In a railway hopper car including center sills, side walls, and slope sheets defining a hopper, means formed of elastic material for agitating car lading comprising spaced plate members extending longitudinally of the car body and into the hopper on opposite sides of said center sills, spaced bar members arranged transversely of the car body and extending between and connected to the side walls and to which plate members are secured, and vibrating means for each of said plate members connected to said members and extending respectively through the adjacent side walls.

1 4. In a railway hopper car having side walls and a hopper, means formed of elastic material for agitating car lading comprising a supporting element extending between and connected to the side walls above their lower edge portions, a plate member secured to the supporting element and 

